Comparing the PWHL’s first season to the NHL’s launch, more than 100 years ago

We’re two weeks into the inaugural season of the PWHL, and despite a handful of hiccups along the way, the new league is receiving near-universal praise for unifying the women’s pro game.

But is that deserved? Has the league’s debut been a success?

After all, it’s one thing to compare the new league to some imagined worst-case scenario, or even to the failed women’s leagues that came before. But that’s setting the bar too low. If the PWHL wants to be viewed as big-league hockey, then it should be compared to other top leagues.

So today, that’s what we’re going to do. Rather than handle the new league with kid gloves, we’re going to compare its first season directly to the biggest hockey league of them all: the NHL.

Let’s see how the new kid on the block really stacks up, by measuring them against the NHL’s debut season in 1917-18 in 10 important categories.

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A rooting guide to the PWHL's six teams

The PWHL is days away from its debut, and plenty of us are rooting for the league to succeed. That’s all well and good, but it’s not enough – to really get the full fan experience, you also need to pick a team to cheer for.

But which one? It’s an important decision, and we’re here to help. You can find detailed previews of each team here. But if you’re still on the fence when it comes to picking a bandwagon, let’s see if we can nudge you towards a well-informed decision.

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